Brake



y 1, 1938. J. F. HIGBEE Re. 20,744

' BRAKE 7 Original Filed Sept. 26, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

c/ames F f'lgbee ATTORNEYS.

May 31, 1938. J. F. HIGBEE Re. 20,744

BRAKE Original Filed Sept. 26, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I, a 102 4 loo Q I I v INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYSv J. F. HIGBEE May 31, 1938.

BRAKE Original Filed Sept. 26, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

c/ames f". fl/ybee ATTORNEYS.

Reissuecl May 31, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE BRAKE Original No. 2,001,875, dated May 21, 1935, Serial No. 565,251, September 26, 1931.

Application for reissue December 30, 1936, Serial No. 118,318

21 Claims.

My invention relates to dual wheel vehicle supporting assemblies and has particular reference to such an assembly wherein the two wheels are mounted for independent rotation.

5 Dual wheels have come into quite general usage in recent years, particularly in connection with heavy busses, trucks, trailers, et cetera, and hitherto these wheels have been mounted upon thesupporting hubs in integral form so that both wheels necessarily rotated in unison at all times.

The improvement above referred to, wherein each of the wheels is free to rotate independently of the other, has been clearly set forth in my patents, No. 1,809,699 and No. 1,970,378. This structure eliminates almost entirely the unnecessary wear and tear on tire casings utilized with such dual wheel assemblies. Where the two wheels are constrained to rotate in unison, the fact that the'crown of the road over which the vehicle is traveling forces the inner tire to support most of the load, thereby flattening the tire casing somewhat and making the diameter oi? the inner 'wheel somewhat less than the diameter of the outer wheel, causes the tire casing on the outer wheel to drag over the road. Such dragging results in almost unbelievable and quite unnecessary wear on the outer tire casing. This diiliculty has been eliminated by the provision of independently rotatable wheels.

The object of the present invention is to retain all of the advantages inherent in the improved structure described briefly above, while at the same time, permitting the vehicle to be retarded through braking action on both of the wheels. Much of the unnecessary drag on the tire casings associated with dual wheel assemblies occurs when the assembly is turned about a swivelling axis for steering purposes. Whether due to drag caused by the crown in the road or swiv- 40 elling action of the dual wheel assembly, the difference in the speed of rotation of the two wheelsv is never great.

More specifically, the object of my invention is to provide retarding means for a. dual wheel as- 45 sembly of this type which is operable, upon normal application of the brakes by the vehicle operator in the customary manner to transfer the braking torque to each of the wheels. The net result of this operation is to lock the two wheels together during the application of the brakes in such manner that the retarding eflect is transmitted through both wheels simultaneously, -thus doubling the efficiency of the braking operation.

A iurther object of the invention is to so arrange and proportion the friction sur aces applicableto the two independently rotatable wheels that whenthe braking torque reaches a point where the inner wheel is locked against rotation, and therefore skids along the ground, the outer wheel will continue to rotate. During this continued rotation there will be a constant retarding effect upon the outer wheel but its rotation substantially eliminates the possibility of skidding laterally. This proportioning of braking eifort to the two wheels insures continuance of rotation of at least one of the wheels even though the other wheel is immobilized against rotation. It furthermore insures independent and differential rotation of the two wheels as demanded by the road travel of the twowheels. Upon turning a" corner or in travelling straight ahead over a crowned road .the two wheels may maintain their diflerential of rotation even though being braked and, as above stated, even though one wheel may be braked to the point of immobility.

Various other meritorious features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved assembly,

Fig. 2 is a section along line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a section through line 3-3 oi. Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the clutch actuatin arrangement, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are details 01' the clutch mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, numeral III indicates a conventional spindle upon which the dual wheel assembly is mounted. Each oi. the wheels is built up froma plurality of parts. The inner wheel proper I I includes a hub portion I! which is seated at its inner extremity upon a rotary bearing assembly I and supported at its outer extremity upon a thrust bearing assembly l6. An annular thrust plate I! and a packing ring II associated therewith position the bearing assembly II and protect the same from dust and dirt. A secondary hub II! which supports the outer wheel is positioned upon a rotary bearing assembly 20 and provided with a radial flange 22 extending inwardly which is adapted to abut the thrust bearing assembly 16. bearing assembly is positioned on its outer side by means of a radial flange 24 extending inwardly intermediate'the extremities of hub portion II. The entire assembly is secured in place by nut 25 screwed on the extremity of spindle l0 and hub cap bolt 28 is bolted to an outwardly extending This thrust I 30 hub l8 by means of a series of circumferentially spaced apart bolts58. A hardened steel sleeve a 52 is press fitted around the outer surface of hub type of brake mechanism, broadly indicated at 38, may be positioned within the drum.

Another annular ring 48 is provided with' an oflset flange 42 around its inner periphery, which flange is adapted to seat between the outer face of brake drum 36 and a cut away portion on the 'inner face of the outer periphery of ring 28. The

ring 46 is bolted, as at 44, at circumferentially spaced apart intervals to the inner wheel H. In this way the drum 36 is free to rotate within limits with respect to wheel I I, the relative movement being limited by means hereafter to be described. Any suitable type of rim may be posl-' tioned upon the wheel II. In the drawings I have illustrated an improved wheel and rim assembly, but this phase of the structure is brought out more clearly in my patent, No. 1,975,273,

" dated October 2, 1934.

The outer wheel 46 includes asleeve portio portion I 2 of, inner wheel II. The said outer wheel 46 is'secured to flange 28 of secondary spindle In that it is free to rotate therea-bout independently of the inner wheel I I. 7

What may be regarded as a secondary drum 56 is associated with the outer wheel 46 and secured to the said wheel in any suitable manner, as bymeans of bolts 58 which may extend through the central or hub portion 68 and the wheel '46 and-inwardly extending radial flange 62 of the said secondary drum. The inner wheel H is provided with a laterally extending circumferential flange 64 which is adapted to engage aseal ring 66 fitted in a circumferential groove provided in the secondary drum 56. In this way the mechanism within the drum 56 is protected from the entrance of dust and dirt. v

Extending laterally away from the annular ring 28 at diametrically opposed portions thereof are two brake actuating members 66. These actuat ing members68 extend through slots 18 in the disk portion of wheel I I. These slots are so proportioned that not until the friction facings of the secondary drums is worn away do the actuating elements reach the extremities of the slots upon relative movement of the wheel I I and drum.

36. No adjustment of the secondaryshoes, to be described hereinafter, is necessary until the friction facings are completely worn away and replacementbecomes necessary. In the particular form disclosed in the drawings, each of the actuating elements 68 includes an arcuate element provided with a head 12 and 14 at each extremity thereof.

. Bolted to the wheel II, as clearly indicated in Fig; 3, is an arcuate cam member 16. The cam' member 16 is secured to the wheel II by means H of spaced apart bolts 18 extending. through divided with camming portions 84 on its outercylindrical face adjacent each extremity of each of the flanges. The cam member 16 is secured to the wheel H and the two constitute a unitary structure. Intermediate the pairs of cams 84 and adjacent the flanges 86 and 82 are spaced apart stop elements 86 and 88 which are adapted to seat extremities of coil springs 96, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. I L I A pair of retarding elements or'brake shoes 82 and 94 are positioned within the secondary drum 56 and each is provided with-friction lining as indicated at 96 in Fig. 6. The extremities of each of these shoes are adapted to abut the enlarged ends 12 and 14 of the actuating elements 68, as

clearly disclosed in Fig. 2. Each of the shoes is.

88 (Fig. 3) whereby the brake shoes are adapted to abut the extremities of the coil springs 96: The ends of each of the. retarding elements 92 and 94 are provided with cam surfaces I82 which are adapted to cooperate with the cam surfaces 48 which is adapted to telescope over the hub with relation to wheel II to thereby exert pressure upon the secondary drum 56.

The operation of the structure will be apparent from the foregoing description. When the re-' tarding means 38 is applied to the drum 36 through conventional remote control mechanism by the vehicle operator, the fact that the inner drum will cause an immediatetendency for the said inner wheel to overrun the drum 36; Since the so-called actuating elements 68 are fixed'to wheel H is free to rotate with respect to the said the drum 36 and since the cam member 16 is fixed to the inner wheel I I, there will likewise be a tendency for the cam member 16 to overrun the actuating elements 68.

Secondary retarding means, brake shoes 82 and 94, are floatingly supported upon the cammember 16 and its cam surfaces I02 rest upon corre- 56. One end of each of the shoes 82 and 94 is anchored upon the adjacent actuating element 68 and the opposite end of each' of these shoes is moved outwardly against the drum by travel .of w

the camsurface I62 ofthe shoe over cam surface 84 of cam element 86. The direction of rotation determines which end of the shoe is anchored and which end-is urged outwardly against the drum. When the secondaryshoeshave been so forced outwardly and have reached the limit of their movement there can be no further relative rotation or movement between the cam surfaces I62 and 84. The result is that the cam member 16 and the inner wheel ll coupled therewith are locked to the secondary drum 5'6 and its associated outer wheel 46 for simultaneous retarded rotation therewith. Continued effort exerted upon the brake mechanism 38 by the vehicle operator will be transferred to both the inner and outer wheels, the braking eil'ect upon the vehicle being in this manner doubly eflective.

The outer wheel 46 is retarded throughretardation of the drum 56 as acted upon by secondary shoes 92 and 94, The inner wheel I l is simultaneously retarded through cam ring 96 .as acted upon by secondary shoes 92 and 94 when such shoes are urged against drum 56. The secondary shoes 92 and 94 are urged against drum 56 when the brake friction means 38 of the inner wheel is actuated to retard rotation of drum 36 relatively to the inner wheel I I as hereinabove described.

However, the friction surface and actuating leverage associated with the retarding means 38 is so proportioned to the friction surface afforded by the secondary shoes 92 and 94 and the leverage provided by the cam surfaces I02 and 84 that when the efiort applied bythe vehicle operator to the drum 35 produces suflicient braking effect upon the inner wheel to lock the same against further rotation, the outer wheel 46 may still continue to rotate. In this way the possibility of lateral skidding by virtue of dragging both tires along the'ground is obviated, while at the same time a maximum braking eiiect up to the danger point is secured.

Having described one specific modification of my improved structure various others will 'be apparent to those skilled in the art and for that reason I intend to limit myself only within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim:

1. A vehicle road wheel assembly comprising a pair of road wheels, a drum' carried 'by each wheel, friction retarding mechanism operable to retard the rotation of one drum, and applying mechanism for said friction retarding mechanism ,associated with the other drum and its wheel to be actuated thereby.

2. A vehicle road wheel assembly comprising a pair of road wheels, a drum carried by each wheel, one .of said drums being located between the two wheels, friction retarding mechanism operable to retard the rotation of one drum, and applying mechanism for said friction retarding mechanism associated with the other drum and its wheel to be actuated thereby.

a 3. In combination with a pair of adjacent vehicle supporting wheels mounted upon a common spindle for rotation independently of one another, a brake drum associated with one of the wheels to permit rotation relative thereto, retarding means associated with the other wheel, and means associated with said last mentioned wheel coupled with said drum whereby rotation of said drum relative to its associated wheel operates said retarding means.

4, In combination with a pair of-adjacent vehicle supporting wheels mounted upon a common spindle for rotation independently of one another, a brake drum associated with one of the wheels to permit limited rotation relative thereto, retarding means associated with the other wheel, and means associated with said last mentioned wheel coupled with said drum whereby rotation of said drum relative to its associated wheel operates said retarding means.

' 5. In combination with a vehicle supporting dual wheel assembly comprising a pair of independently rotatable wheels, retarding means associated with each of said wheels, and means .coupling said retarding means whereby actuation of the one automatically operates the other.

6. In combination with a vehicle supportin is dual wheel assembly comprising a pair or independently rotatable wheels, retarding means associated with each of said wheels, and means whereby braking torque upon one of said retarding means automatically actuates the other re tarding means.

- 7. In combination with a vehicle supporting f dual wheel assembly comprising a pair of independently rotatable wheels, retarding means asrelative rotary movement with respect thereto, re-

tarding means positioned within each of the drums, and means couplingthe relatively movable drum and the retarding means associated with the other drum for operating the-same.

9. In combination witha vehicle supporting dual wheel assembly, retarding means associated with each of the wheels, and means coupling said retarding means whereby actuation of the one automatically operates the other.

10. Brake mechanism' including, in combination, a wheel, a brake drum supported thereby for limited rotation with respect thereto, re-

tarding-means positioned within the drum and operable upon actuation thereof to cause rotation of the drum with respect ,to its wheel through a limited arc, and means for limiting said relative movement whereby the braking torque is subsequently transferred from the drum to the wheel.

11. In a dual wheel assembly, including a brake drum for each wheel, retarding means associated with each drum, and means coupling one of said drums with the retarding means of the other drum whereby braking torque applied to the one drum actuates the retarding means of said other drum into frictional engagement with the drum.

to actuate the brake mechanism associated with the outer wheel to retard the rotation of the outer wheel and coupled through the brake mechanism of the outer wheel with the inner wheel to retard its rotation.

13. A dual road wheel assembly comprising an inner wheel and an outer wheel supported for independent rotation, brake mechanism assov to actuate the brake mechanism associated with the outer wheel to retard the rotation 'of the f outer wheel, said brake mechanism associated with the outer wheel being coupled with the inner wheel to retard its rotation.

14. A vehicle road wheel assembly comprising an inner and an outer road wheel supported 'side by side for independent rotation, brake mechanism associated-with the outer wheel, brake operating means associated with the inner wheel including a, cam engaging the brake mechanism of the outer wheel and cooperating to urge said brake mechanism to the applied position.

15. A vehicle road wheel assembly comprising an inner and an outer road wheel supportedside by side for independent rotation, brake mechanism associated with the outer wheel including a, pair of arcuate brake friction members disposed within a drum ca ried by the wheel, means associated with the inner wheel provided with a part projecting between opposite ends of said brake friction members and operable to actuate the same, said inner wheel provided with another part adapted to engage said brake friction members adjacent to their ends and adapted to cooperate with said first mentioned part to actuate said brake friction members.

16. A vehicle road wheel assembly comprising an inner and an outer road wheel supported side by side for independent rotation, brake-mechanism associated with one of said wheels operable to retard its rotation and including brake friction means coupled with the other of. said wheels to normally rotate with said other wheel.

17. A dual wheel assembly comprising a pair of road wheels supported side by side for independent rotation, a brake drum carried by one of said wheels and arranged between said wheels, friction retarding mechanism within said drum operable to be actuated to retard the rotation of each of said wheels and coupled with the inner wheel to positively prevent overrunning rotation thereby of said friction retarding means and coupled with the outer wheel to retard its rotation without positively preventing overrunning rotation there- 18. A dual wheel assembly comprising adjacent inner and outer road wheels supported for independent rotation, a brake drum associated with each wheel, friction retarding means within the inner wheel drum operable to be urged thereagainst to retard its rotation, friction retarding means within the outer wheel drum operable to be urged thereagainst to retard its rotation, mechanism coupling said last named retarding means with the inner wheel drum and with the inner wheel to urge said retarding means against the outer wheel drum in response to differential rotation. of the inner wheel and inner wheel drum. 19. A dual wheel assembly comprising adjacent inner and outer road wheels supported'for independent rotation, a brake drum associated with each wheel, friction retarding means within the inner wheel drum operable to be urged thereagainst to retard its rotation, friction retarding means within the outer wheel drum operable to be urged thereagainst to retard its rotation, mechanism responsive to retardation of the inner wheel drum operable to urge said last mentioned retarding means against the outer wheel drum while permitting a differential of rotation therebetween, said last mentioned retarding means coupled -with the inner wheel to interrupt its rotation upon retardation of rotation of the inner wheel drum by its retarding means.

20. A vehicle road wheel assembly comprising an inner and an outer road wheel supported side by side for independent rotation, a brake drum' associated with each wheel, retarding means associated with the inner wheel drum and operable to be urged thereagainst to frictionally retard its rotation, retarding means associated with the outer wheel drum and operable to be urged thereagainst to frictionally retard its rotation simultaneously with the retardation of rotation of, the inner wheel drum, and mechanism coupling said last mentioned retarding means with the inner wheel to interrupt its rotation.

21. A vehicle road wheel assembly comprising an inner wheel and an outer wheel supported side by side for independent rotation, a brake drum associated with each wheel, retarding means associated with the inner wheel drum and operable to be urged thereagainst to frictionally retard its rotation, retarding means associated with the outer wheel drum and operable to be urged thereagainst to frictionally retard its'rotation, means associated with the inner wheel-coupled with said last mentioned retarding means to actuate said retarding means radially and means associated with the inner wheel drum coupled with said last mentioned retarding means to retard the rotation thereof simultaneously with the retardation of rotation of the inner wheel drum.

JAMES F. HIGBEE. 

